José Bosingwa da Silva (born 24 August 1982) is a Portuguese international right back who played for Chelsea between 2008 and 2012. Signed from Porto in the summer of 2008, he made 48 appearances in his first season, but his second was disrupted by a knee injury that was sustained in October 2009. He required further surgery in March 2010 meaning he missed out on the majority of the double-winning 2009-10 season, however he was an FA Cup winner in 2009, and also played in the club's FA Cup and UEFA Champions League final victories in 2012.

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Before Chelsea

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Portuguese father and a Congolese mother, Bosingwa moved with his parents at a very young age to Seia, Portugal, in the Guarda District. He was picked as a youth to play for Boavista, where he stayed until signed by José Mourinho in 2003–04 for Porto, where he was used sparingly, playing only 11 league games that season. He made his UEFA Champions League debut on September 16, 2003, in a 1–1 away draw with Partizan, playing eight matches in the club's victorious campaign.

Fully established as a right-back (he started as a defensive midfielder) and Porto's first-choice since the 2004–05 season, after the departures of Paulo Ferreira and veteran Carlos Secretário, Bosingwa was a vital element in the team's four league titles in five seasons.

Chelsea career

Bosingwa signed for Chelsea for £16.3m prior to the 2008-09 season on a three-year deal, joining the club after Euro 2008, along with Portugal national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and fellow international Deco. On 16 July, Bosingwa was presented with the number 16 shirt, but was handed the number 17 for Chelsea on 8 August, swapping with Scott Sinclair.

Towards the end of the season, Bosingwa was banned for three European matches as a result of comments he made about the referee on Portuguese television following Chelsea's clash with FC Barcelona on 17 April 2009 in the second-leg of the semi-final of the Champions League. Chelsea went out on the away goals rule after having several penalty appeals turned down by referee Tom Henning Øvrebø. Bosingwa commented "I don't know whether he's a referee or a thief", and later apologised for his choice of words. The ban was later reduced to two matches on appeal.

In the build-up to the 2009-10 season, rumours in the media linking Bosingwa to a move to Bayern Munich were ended on 19 June 2009, when chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge conceded defeat in his club's attempt to sign the Portuguese defender. Bosingwa started the season as first choice right back for Chelsea under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, but sustained a knee injury in October, missing the rest of Chelsea's season. The club announced in early March that Bosingwa required further surgery, ruling him out of the 2010 World Cup. Despite playing in 8 games of Chelsea's title-winning Premier League season, Bosingwa did not receive a winners' medal, with 10 appearances being the requisite number required.

After exactly a year on the sidelines, Bosingwa returned to first team action on 16 October as a 75th-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. The Portuguese international went on to appear regularly during the 2010-11 season, his opportunities enhanced by the need for regular right back Branislav Ivanović to cover at centre back. Bosingwa made 26 appearances in all competitions, but had failed to dislodge the Serbian as first choice right back by the end of the season.

Bosingwa found himself back in favour at the start of the 2011-12 season under new manager André Villas-Boas, with Branislav Ivanović selected at centre back. He scored his first goal since 2008 in the third match of the season; a 3-1 home win against Norwich City. The Portuguese right back started every league and European game of the season until the start of November, though he was sent-off in an ill-tempered west London derby against Queens Park Rangers on 23 October. However when David Luiz returned to the side along side John Terry in central defence, Ivanović was moved to right back with Bosingwa consigned to the bench. Various absences ensured that the Portuguese international continued to be involved, but his status as a substitute continued under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo as the season approached its climax, before a crisis in defence led to Bosingwa being called upon once more. In a remarkable Champions League semi-final 2nd leg against Barcelona he replaced the injured Gary Cahill early in the match, with Ivanović slotting into central defence, but after John Terry was sent off in the first half the Portuguese defender was forced to play as a central defender for the remainder of the match in one of the most resilient performances in history from a Chelsea side. Due to injuries and suspensions Bosingwa also played at centre back in the following match; a 6-1 hammering of QPR, once again proving able. He was a starter in the victorious 2012 FA Cup Final the following weekend, despite his hesitant clearance being blocked, allowing Andy Carroll to pull a goal back for Liverpool and ensuring a nervous final half hour. Having contributed to Chelsea reaching the final Bosingwa inked his name in Chelsea's history by playing the full match as Chelsea won the Champions League for the first time, in what would be his final appearance for the Blues. He left the club following the expiry of his contract a few weeks later, subsequently signing for Queens Park Rangers.

International

Due to his consistent performances at club level, Bosingwa has been a regular in the Portugal squad since 2007, when he overtook Miguel as the country's first choice right-back. Bosingwa was named in the Portuguese squad for the Euro 2008 Championships, where Portugal were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Bosingwa was a starter in three of their four matches, playing at right-back. In each match he performed exceptionally, leading to him being named in the UEFA team of the tournament.